The Night Shift: Ken Leung Not Returning for Season 4

Ken Leung is leaving the cast of NBC’s medical drama The Night Shift, and won’t be returning for the show’s fourth season, according to our sister site Deadline. Leung reportedly had an option in his contract to leave after three seasons; the show wanted him back for Season 4, but he is choosing to pursue other opportunities.

Leung has played ER surgeon/former Army Ranger Dr. Christopher “Topher” Zia since Season 1 of the hit summer drama. The Season 3 finale left most of the characters’ fates up in the air; Topher got fired by the hospital’s new owner, leading to a walkout by all of his colleagues on the ER’s night shift.

The Night Shift has been a solid summer performer for NBC the past three years, and currently stands as summer’s top-rated network drama. In fact, it got renewed for a fourth season just last week… but that fourth season will have to go on without Topher.

Will you miss Ken Leung? Talk Topher with us in the comments, Night Shift fans.